Carrying out postnatal care properly is very important for mothers who have just had children. In addition to maintaining the health of the mother and baby, this treatment is useful for accelerating recovery after giving birth, so that mothers can carry out activities comfortably, including breastfeeding the baby.
Every mother who has just given birth, whether by normal delivery method or Caesarean section, both need postnatal care. This treatment is not enough to do as long as the mother is still being treated in a hospital or maternity hospital, but also needs to be continued at home until the mother's condition is completely recovered.
Normal Postpartum Care
During a normal delivery, it is likely that the vagina will experience a tear or an episiotomy incision. These birth sores generally take a few weeks to dry out and fully heal. However, not a few mothers complain of vaginal pain due to this labor wound.
To relieve the pain, there are several easy ways you can do at home, including:
- Use a soft pillow as a seat.
- Clean the vagina with warm water or use a cloth that has been soaked in warm water after urinating and defecating.
- Take a warm bath for about 10-15 minutes.
- Give a cold compress on the vagina for about 15 minutes. This method can also be done to reduce swelling and bleeding in the vagina.
- Take pain relievers as directed and prescribed by a doctor.
Not only vaginal pain, some mothers who have just given birth sometimes can also feel pain or difficulty defecating after normal delivery. However, you don't need to worry, because this condition will improve on its own as the recovery process after delivery goes on.
So that the stool texture is softer and the bowel movements are smooth, you can eat high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and drink enough water. If needed, you can also use laxatives as recommended by your doctor.
Postpartum Care by Caesarean
If a normal delivery causes a tear in the vagina, the thing to pay attention to after giving birth by caesarean section is an incision in the abdomen. These incisions generally heal in about 6 weeks. However, the recovery process can take longer if complications occur.
To support the recovery process after cesarean delivery, you can take the following treatment steps:
- Clean the postoperative incision by rubbing it gently and slowly using a cloth that has been moistened with clean water.
- Regular movement and light exercise, such as walking around the room or stretching.
- Keep the incision dry and clean. However, you can still take a shower, if the incision is closed with a waterproof wound cover.
- Avoid rubbing or scratching the suture wound area.
- Avoid physical activity that is too strenuous so that the surgical sutures do not open.
A few days after the C-section, you may still feel uterine contractions that are similar to menstrual cramps. However, this is nothing to worry about because it normally happens. These contractions are your body's natural attempt to reduce bleeding after delivery.
If you feel pain that is quite severe, you can ask your doctor for a prescription pain reliever.
Postpartum Care in the Postpartum Period
Every mother who has just given birth will certainly experience the postpartum period. The postpartum period is the period that is calculated from the time a mother gives birth until the body returns to its pre-pregnancy condition. The puerperium generally lasts up to 6 weeks or 40 days after delivery.